# wait for

CEFR A1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wait-for
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to stay in one place or delay an action until someone arrives or something happens.

For teachers: to stay in a state of expectation or to delay action until a specified time or event occurs; a transitive phrasal verb requiring the preposition 'for' to introduce the object.

## Examples

- I am waiting for the bus.
- We had to wait for the rain to stop before we could start the football match.
- The investors are waiting for the quarterly results to be published before they decide whether to increase their holdings in the company.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am waiting the train." but "I am waiting for the train." — the verb 'wait' is intransitive and needs the preposition 'for' to connect to an object.

## Usage notes

- always requires 'for' when followed by the person or thing you are expecting.
- Teaching tip: common error for speakers of Romance languages who may omit the preposition 'for' because their native verb is direct; practice with 'wait for' vs 'await' (formal, no preposition).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.